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The concept of right brain and left brain thinking developed from the research in the late 1960s of an American psycho-biologist Roger W. Sperry. He discovered that the human brain has two very different ways of thinking. He researched that our way of thinking differs between the left and the right part of our brain. With the left part, we first look at the pieces, processing them in an analytical and sequential way, before putting them together to get the whole picture. With the right part, it’s the other way around. We first take in the whole picture, and then we focus on the details. Sperry was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1981, although subsequent research has shown things aren't quite as polarized as once thought (nor as simple).

So why do we talk about Right Brain and Left Brain? We do have only one brain, but it's got various 'bits'. The part of the brain that controls rational functions, the cerebral cortex, is made up of two halves. These are connected by masses of nerve fibers which allow 'messages' to pass between them. These halves are commonly called the right brain and left brain, but should more correctly be termed 'hemispheres'.

Left hemisphere

THE LEFT HEMISPHERE

With the left part of our brain, we try to be objective and rational. We can focus on details and analytic facts, and we try to be both reasonable and practical. With the left part, we think things through, using our logic and make conscious decisions. We can relate experiences to both the past and the presence, and we like structures and patterns. We appreciate reality and like to recognize familiar things in the attempt to avoid change. The left part of our brain is responsible for processing numbers, and words, so that’s where we manage for example arithmetics, science, and languages.

Objective & rational. The left part of our brain makes sure we stay objectiveAnalytical. Objective thinking requires factual information. Anything analytical, like numbers and facts help in getting a clearer picture of a situation. Conscious. When we think with the left part of our brain, we focus on details and logic.

Conservative. The left part of our brain causes that we are not particularly fond of new things and irregularities.Structured. The left brain also responds to pattern and clean structures.

Right hemisphere

THE RIGHT HEMISPHERE

The right part of our brain is rather subjective. Instead of making rational and conscious decisions, this part relies on intuition. Our thinking in the right brain is spontaneous and influenced by emotions, such as our mood, or external emotion triggers. With this part of the brain, we use our imagination, fantasy, and personal beliefs to make up our mind. We are willing to take risks and focus on goals rather than the process it takes to get there. We appreciate images and emotional elements, rather than factual information.

Subjective. The right part of our brain is rather subjective and can be triggered with the look and feel of your artwork.Intuitive. The right brain is intuitive. Emotional. Our right brain can be activated by emotions, such as our mood or external triggers.Experimental. The right brain doesn’t think much about consequences and is willing to try new things and engage in unfamiliar actions.Goal focussed. Rather than thinking about processes, the right brain is concerned with the outcome and it doesn’t mind a complicated path to get there.

This sounds all very straightforward, right? Right, it’s not rocket science. However, it is also important to mention that you hardly can, and certainly should not try to, separate the two brains. Although people sometimes say that, for example, more creative people use their right brain more than their left brain.

Though right-brain or non-verbal thinking is often regarded as more 'creative', there is no right or wrong here; it's merely two different ways of thinking. One is not better than the other, just as being right-handed is not 'superior' to being left-handed. What's important is to be aware that there are different ways of thinking, knowing what your natural preference is, and if it's strongly verbal (left brain) rather than visual (right brain) being open to trying new approaches which deliberately approach painting or drawing in a right-brain way.

With Art Therapy both hemispheres are triggered. On one side the client works from his right brain and on the other side the Art Therapist gives prompts to engage the left brain at the same time. This promotes balance in ways to approach challenges and it also stimulates the healing process of traumas which are stored in the right brain.

Two days ago, on January 13th 2013, Dareling participated in the Body Mind & Soul Expo, organized by the Healing Hearts Foundation, at the World Trade Center in Curacao.For Dareling it was the first time to be part of an event of this size and to be honest.... it was mind blowing!

It felt so good to be present and meet everyone. To see the light of understanding in the eyes of the people we talked to is truly priceless. I cannot thank you enough for this chance to explain about the wonders of Art Therapy and I hope to meet you again soon!